This week, I tried some of Vapour’s Aura Multi Use Classic. These are marketed as multi-use sticks, that can be used for lips, cheeks and eyes. These three colours are the only ones in the range that are carmine free.

Simply put, Aura is an essential tool in creating your naturally radiant look, from monochromatic elegance to a fresh pop of color

Infused with Vapour’s proprietary Herbal Enlightenment Complex, to nourish and protect.

Organic Certification:

70% organic skincare + 30% mineral pigment/essential oils = 100% Natural.

Mineral pigments are inert and cannot be classified as organic.

Vapour products never contain toxic chemicals, parabens, phthalates or nano-particles. None of our raw ingredients have been irradiated or animal-tested.

Ingredients:

Organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Organic Cera Alba (Beeswax), Organic Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Silica, Castor Isostearate Beeswax Succinate*, Mica, Solanum Lycopersicon (Tomato) Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract, Canarium Luzonicum (Elemi) Gum Nonvolatiles, Wildcrafted Commiphora Myrrha (Myrrh) Gum Oil
Wildcrafted Boswellia Carteri (Frankincense) Gum*, Organic Ocimum Sanctum (Tulsi/Holy Basil) Leaf Extract, Organic Nelumbo Nucifera (Lotus) Leaf Extract, Pogostemon Cablin Oil
Tocopherol (Non GMO Vitamin E–Soy) [+/–: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Carmine (CI 75470)]

*Eco Cert Ingredient

*These three shades are the only ones to not contain carmine*

Expiration:

Not sure as I purchased samples

Pricing:

These samples are from Alyaka. You can pick 5 shades for 19 pounds and they are a decent size so you can trial them for a few days at least. For the full sizes it is $36.00 US for 0.24oz or 6.80g. Buy from Australian retailers for $51.50 AUS.

Packaging:

As I bought samples from Alyaka, I can’t tell you about the full size packaging. The samples though are in little, clear plastic pots, with a twist off lid. You do receive a good amount, enough to allow for a few applications.

Scent:

It has quite a heavy fragrance, that is somewhat earthy but still herbal. It is slightly less sweet than the Siren Lipsticks. The smell doesn’t linger though.

Texture:

It’s quite soft and easy to spread and blend. It almost turns from a cream to a powder, it’s so light and doesn’t feel like an oily film on your skin at all.

Application:

If you had the full packaging you could either apply to your cheeks straight from the stick, but I did like being able to pick up product with my finger and then blending it out. You do need a little warmth from your fingers

Opacity:

It starts as a light to medium opacity but it can easily be sheered out. On your lips you can build it up to a medium to high coverage.

Colours Purchased: Charm ,Cheeky and Virtue

Charm

Natural Peaches and Cream

This is a lovely baby pink, with a slight hint of peach and warmth. The major drawback is the really obvious silver glitter. While it doesn’t feel chunky, it looks chunky and is far bigger than finely milled mica. It becomes more obvious the more you sheer out the product, which isn’t what I want for my cheeks. It does give them a very nice sheen and blush. It’s also so easy to apply with your fingers and blends seamlessly. On my lips the product feels nice. It’s not overly emollient though, so I can see why some people wouldn’t like to use it as a lip colour. It’s borderline too light for my complexion but at least it doesn’t turn pastel on me.

Cheeky

Sweet Cool Pink

Cheeky is too cool and too pale for me. You can see shimmer in the product but it’s barely detectable once it’s applied. It comes off as pastel and almost has a whitening effect, especially on my lips. It sits on top and never feels like it blends in. On my cheeks it’s not so bad, as long as it’s a light application. The formula is still really nice.

Virtue

Soft Rose

This swatches more mauve than rose on me, with no shimmer. As for it’s versatility, I would say it’s the best colour for both my lips and cheeks. The shade is darker and it is more neutral, rather than being too cool toned. I do believe it’s better suited as a blush but if I were in a pinch I could use it for both purposes. I don’t dislike the formula on my lips. While it does feel less moisturizing than a balm, it’s not horribly drying. That said, if you’re after a more natural flush, without gloss or the heaviness of a lipstick, it works really well for that.

PROS:

• Good ingredients
• Soft, wearble colours for every day
• Very easy product to work with
• Sheers out effortlessly
• Very natural looking on your cheeks

CONS:

• For me, they’re not really multi-purpose
• Fragrance is a little strong for me
• Colours don’t all suit me
• Charm has too much chunky shimmer
• Not vegan
• Quite expensive for a product that is essentially blusher.

Final Word:

The cream to powder formula really is much better suited for your cheeks. It is weightless, not too greasy or shiny and blends smoothly. While all the colours I could get away with wearing on my cheeks, Cheeky is too light and Charm is borderline too light to wear as a lip colour. As blushes they look lovely and very natural. My favourite colour for blush is Charm, I just don’t like the silver glitter in it.

As a true multi-tasker, my favourite is Virtue as it is darker and could be used on my lips if I was desperate. However because of the nature of the formula, it almost feels a little powdery on my lips. If they were really dry and chapped, I’d need a balm underneath.

Purchase here: Official website

Purchase samples from: Alyaka